Keto Mojo test results

HestiaMoon1

I have to use it for the next 2 months per Dr.
I’m seeing odd results like Lo at 7am but 0.8 at 2:30 pm
Why?
Ketones aren’t like glucose.....or so I was told.
How do I know if I’m “in ketosis” with results like this.
Also, I’m gaining weight which I think would be from the extra calories from upping my fat to try to get back into ketosis. (Macros Carb-Fat-Protein went from: 5% - 70% - 25% to 5% - 80% - 15%)
Has anyone been through this and have guidance?

HestiaMoon1

Dang.

nvmomketo

Ketones are often lowest first thing in the morning when the liver is pumping out a bunch of glucose. End of the day readings are typically highest. I often get a negative first thing in the morning, especially if I am well hydrated (urine ketostix) but at night it is at trace.

If you get any positives, then you are in ketosis. Think of it like a pregnancy test. A positive is a positive, and a negative may even be a positive.

If you keep your carbs at 5%, you WILL be in ketosis. There's almost no question about it unless you have a serious health issue or your liver is very unhealthy and making tonnes of sugar... even then, you'd probably still be mildly ketogenic.

There really is no need to cut protein unless you need very high ketones for a medical reason. For weight loss, high ketones are not needed at all. People can lose on a high carb diet too... Some of us just find it easier to lose while low carb, that's all.

Protein is helpful n retaining lean tissue, so (IMO) it's often best to not limit your amount to lower levels.

How are you testing ketones?

HestiaMoon1

Hi. Thank you.
I use the blood meter called Keto Mojo. It’s the brand name.
I have MS. Sometimes exercise is not even possible, but eating right always is. I’m currently 40lbs overweight. I’ve lost 16 since mid-January. Started LOW carb & Keto in May. Flatlined on weightloss. I’m confused to say the least.

kpk54

I'll tag @macchiatto (hopefully that is correct) who also (I'm pretty sure) has MS. Though she may not be able to answer your specific question/s, the two of you may be able to share information about your various treatments relating to diet and MS.

I have a couple of questions (if you're willing to share) so I'll preface my question/s by stating I have a neurological movement disorder (Spasmodic Torticollis aka Cervical Dystonia) and have experimented with self prescribed dietary approaches (mostly elimination) to see if any have an impact on minimizing my symptoms (keto being the longest experiment of 52 weeks). No luck but certainly keto provided considerable hunger suppression which I was in great need of after weight loss. Given my disorder/condition is not degenerative, I admit to not being as tenacious as I might be otherwise. Anyway...

Is the doc who prescribed a ketogenic diet and the use of the Keto Mojo a neurologist? I ask mostly because it pleases me there are physicians who suggest dietary changes (at least as an adjunct) versus only medications and I am wondering the type of doctor. Have you worked with a registered dietitian to define/refine your food choices?

Are you familiar with the Wahls Protocol? I'm not suggesting it or advocating it for you but rather simply sharing the information if you have not heard of it before. Dr. Terry Wahls (MD) seems to have reversed her MS with diet. I'll not post a specific link or video but suggest for you or others reading that Dr. Terry Wahls has some very compelling videos on youtube. Her chosen diet certainly seems to have helped her and if it helps one other person, thumbs up to that.

Your comment of (paraphrasing) "eating right is always possible" is something that speaks to me. Best of luck to you in finding your best way of eating.

ETA: I've not watched extremely current videos by Dr. Wahls but with those that are 5 years old or so, she did indicate she has not CURED her MS via diet. Just wanted to share that. In the videos I watched, she obviously improved physically. Significantly.

nvmomketo

HestiaMoon1 wrote: »

Hi. Thank you.
I use the blood meter called Keto Mojo. It’s the brand name.
I have MS. Sometimes exercise is not even possible, but eating right always is. I’m currently 40lbs overweight. I’ve lost 16 since mid-January. Started LOW carb & Keto in May. Flatlined on weightloss. I’m confused to say the least.

Oops. I didn't realize it was the name brand.

Congrats on your success so far!

How long has your weight stalled? Sometimes it will do that and then all if a sudden you get a whoosh of weight loss. As a general, but annoying, rule it is not best to worry if you've only been stalled a month. Easier said than done right?

If you are truly stalled, that could mean that you've lost enough weight that you need to lower your calories. This will mainly be true if you had a modest or small caloric deficit. The amount of energy that the body needs goes down with weight. If you are eating what your body needs in terms of calories, you'll stop losing weight and maintain.

If you are sure you are in a calorie deficit (probably by logging foods you weighed on a scale) then you'll just need to wait it out.

Some like to try changing something for a few days to see if it helps. I have found that if I eat more for a day or too (staying on plan, just not in a calorie deficit) I will often have a whoosh of weight loss within days of going back to a diet. Others find temporarily switching macros a bit helps - raise carbs up to 50g or lower it to almost zero. Some try fasting or stop doing it or try a food fast like an egg fast. Exercise causes a pause in losses for me due to glycogen retention - I try not to worry over that since it's just water.

Speaking of water, warm weather raises my weight by a few pounds. Once it cools off I lose water weight again.

I also find that injuries and autoimmune flare-ups can stall me. My issues have been bothering my joints lately and my losses have stalled for about two weeks. I'm still eating the same so I know that it will go fairly soon. I just need to be patient. I can feel my clothes getting looser so I try not to worry.

Do you have "before" measurements or pictures? Those can show progress even if the scale does not.

macchiatto

Saw the tag and yes, I do have MS (relapsing-remitting). First attack 2001, official Dx in 2007. I've been eating keto/LCHF (experimented with different ranges within low carb) for about 2.5 years now. My MS specialist didn't prescribe it but is supportive. I did read Dr. Wahls book and am looking forward to seeing further research beyond her own results to see if this is generalizable. I follow some of her principles, though not her full diet or protocol. Anyhow, feel free to PM or friend me if you'd like!

nita506

I also have relapse remitting MS and I'm glad to see that there are other people with the same condition currently on the keto diet. I'm always worried when I start something new, have any of you had any flare-ups since starting the diet?

HestiaMoon1

I was diagnosed a long time ago when I lived at a very high altitude in Colorado.
Years later, I ended up in Iowa and my initial GP was a colleague of Dr. Wahls. I had already started a Paleo WOE.
I am not, however, on the protocol.
The Keto is from my Dr who focuses on using food and exercise instead of meds to heal. (If she prescribed a little meditation, she’d fit right in to Boulder, but she’s from Iowa so she thinks meditation is for hippies.)
I’ve never taken meds for my RRMS.
I do think the elimination (ok, limiting, I’m no saint) of grains has helped immensely. I was getting blindspots in my right eye and numbness spreading to my left side before I started committing more to Paleo.
I can’t grow long, strong, beautiful fingernails anymore - which makes me kinda sad - but I’ll take eyesight & mobility over that. I can always get fake nails.
My friend, Elana Amsterdam, has a website and cookbooks about dealing with MS and other autoimmune diseases with food that I think is better than Dr Wahls - but I’m biased!
I found a good Keto macro calculator that I’m trying now. Hopefully that’ll help the weightloss.